The Troubletones is a glee club based at William McKinley High School. The club was started when Al Motta privately donated enough money to Principal Figgins to allow for the continuation of an additional show choir which heavily featured his daughter, Sugar. In Al Motta's request, Principal Figgins summoned Shelby Corcoran, all the way from New York, to direct the group. It is currently active in WMHS, along with 3 other glee clubs, including New Directions.

Will and Shelby have the New Directions and The Troubletones compete in a "Mash Off" to make peace between the teams. However, Santana wages war against the New Directions. The Troubletones sing Rumour Has It/Someone Like You, which ends in Santana slapping Finn Hudson for outing her. (Mash Off)

Finn invites The Troubletones to participate in the New Directions' assignment for the week, in hopes to get Santana comfortable with coming out. (I Kissed a Girl)

The four major Troubletones and Tina are ordered by Sue and Roz to sing a song about female empowerment to Coach Beiste after they make a joke about her black eye. The five girls sing Cell Block Tango to Beiste and an appalled Sue and Roz. They later learn Cooter hit her and sing Shake It Out to let her know they're sorry. (Choke)

It is revealed that the Troubletones are being revived by Will as a fellow Glee Club at the new William McKinley High School for the Performing Arts, alongside New Directions and a male-only mirror of the Troubletones known as The Duly Noted. (Dreams Come True)